Attorney Accused of $18M Ponzi Scam

ATLANTA (CN) – A Marietta attorney took $35 million from 140 investors in a Ponzi scheme, the SEC says. Robert P. Copeland began the scam in 2004, promising 15-18% returns from real estate, but stuck nearly all the money into his law firm’s bank accounts and swiped millions for cars, artwork and his house, and to pay “sizeable commissions” to people who roped in customers, the SEC says in its federal complaint.